Method of making sheet-metal pipes



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J. E. LEADLEY. METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL PIPE. No. 340,330. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

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,NITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

METHOD OF MAKING SHEET-METAL PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,330, dated April 20, 1888.

Application filed August 14, .1885.

To aZZ whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. LEADLEY, of Nyack, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes for Forming Sheet- Metal Pipes; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in processes for forming sheetmetal pipes.

The object of the invention is to provide a pipe with corrugations after it is formed in the usual manner by bending it into a plane-sided or cylindrical tube.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of a movable reciprocating die, a revolving mandrel, and a support for the pipe, all as hereinafter described.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical central crosssection of the machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation, and Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of one of the bearings of the mandrel.

A is the frame of the machine, by which all the operating parts are supported.

B and O are two horizontal shafts transversely journaled in the frame. The shaft B is provided upon each end with a hand-wheel, D, and pinion E. The shaft 0 is provided upon its ends with the gear-wheels F, which mesh with the pinions E.

G is a vertical gate held between the vertical guides H in the frame, so that it may be reciprocated vertically.

I are two vertical racks secured to or integrally formed with the gate G. These racks engage with pinions J, secured upon the shaft 0.

K is adie detachably secured in any suitable way to the lower end of the gate G.

L is a former or mandrel journaled in bearings M.

N are levers pivotally secured to the bearings M. The inner ends of these levers pass under the journalsIof the mandrel L, so that by depressing them the mandrel can be lifted up from its bearings.

Serial No.1?4A26. (Nomodeh) O is a table, and P are base-blocks loosely supported upon the table. The upper face of these base-blocks conforms in general outline to the lower face of the mandrel.

In practice the sheet-metal pipe, after being formed by bending around a mandrel and soldered or secured in the usual manner, is subjected to the operation of this machine as follows: Suppose a sheet-metal pipe of the shape of the cross-section of the mandrel shown in Fig. l is desired to be formed. Arectangular sheet-metal pipe of suitable size to fit the mandrel is slipped over it, and by turning the crank-wheel D the movable die K is brought down upon the mandrel, so as to bend thepipe around one corner of the mandrel. Thenthe operator or operators lift the mandrel up inits bearings by means of the lever N, and after rotating it sufficiently forms the next corner of the pipe in the same manner, repeating the operation until the pipe is completed. To slip the pipes on and off the mandrel the latter is removed from its bearings.

The function of the base blocks is to support the mandrel and uphold the pipe on the mandrel, so as to give the die enough material to form the corrugations without straining the pipe. These base-blocks are made movable to accommodate the mandrel to the movable die, so that they will fit each other when brought together.

' The machine herein shown and described is not claimed in this application, as the same forms the subject-matter of an application filed by me March 30,1885, Serial N 0. 160,602.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- The improvement in the method of manufacture of sheet-metal pipe, which consists in first bending a sheet of metal into a planesided tube, and thereafter forming ribs, flutes, or projections on said tubeby the application of external pressure thereto while supported internally on detached longitudinal lines, substantially as set forth.

JAMES E. LE ADLEY.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, CHARLES J. HUNT. 

